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Fighting in Southern Philippines Kills 8 Fighting in Southern Philippines Kills 8
(about 3 hours later)
MANILA — Less than a year after a major peace deal in the strife-torn southern Philippines, fighting on Monday between government forces and rebels left out of the agreement killed at least eight people, wounded dozens and paralyzed a city of 800,000. MANILA — Fighting between government forces and rebels who were left out of a recent peace agreement paralyzed a city of 800,000 in the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least eight people and wounding dozens more.
Major government buildings in Zamboanga City, about 530 miles south of Manila, had been secured late Monday, but several parts of town remained occupied by about 300 armed rebels holding at least 20 hostages, a military spokesman said. By late Monday, government troops had secured major government buildings in Zamboanga City, about 530 miles south of Manila, but several parts of the city were still occupied by about 300 armed rebels holding at least 20 hostages, a military spokesman said. Flights to the area were canceled, and many of the city’s picturesque, usually busy streets were empty except for military patrols.
Flights to the area were canceled, and many of the city’s picturesque, usually busy streets were barren except for military patrols. The dead included two rebels, a member of the Philippine Navy, a police officer and four civilians. The reported deaths included two rebel fighters, a Philippine Navy sailor, a police officer and four civilians.
The fighting started early Monday when several hundred armed members of the Moro National Liberation Front tried to enter the city by boat and were intercepted by the Philippine Navy, said Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, a military spokesman. The fighting started early Monday when several hundred armed members of the Moro National Liberation Front tried to enter the city by boat and were intercepted by the Philippine Navy, said Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, a military spokesman. The rebels, dressed in military uniforms, tried to march to City Hall to raise their group’s flag and declare independence from the national government, Colonel Zagala said.
The men, dressed in military uniforms, were trying to march to City Hall to raise the Moro National Liberation Front flag and declare independence from the national government, Colonel Zagala said.
“There is only one legitimate military force in our country, and that is the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said at a news briefing. “We cannot allow another armed force to march around our cities. This is unacceptable.”“There is only one legitimate military force in our country, and that is the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said at a news briefing. “We cannot allow another armed force to march around our cities. This is unacceptable.”
It was not clear whether the armed men represented the leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front, a rebel group that has sporadically clashed with the government for decades, or whether they were a breakaway faction operating on their own. It was not clear whether the rebel fighters represented the leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front, a group that has sporadically clashed with the government for decades, or whether they were a breakaway faction operating on their own.
“Their political intent is not our concern at the moment,” Colonel Zagala said. “Our concern is the safety of the population of Zamboanga.”“Their political intent is not our concern at the moment,” Colonel Zagala said. “Our concern is the safety of the population of Zamboanga.”
Emmanuel Fontanilla, a spokesman for the Moro National Liberation Front, said in a local radio interview that the incident was not an attack on the town. He said members of the organization were gathering for a peaceful demonstration when they were attacked by the Philippine military.Emmanuel Fontanilla, a spokesman for the Moro National Liberation Front, said in a local radio interview that the incident was not an attack on the town. He said members of the organization were gathering for a peaceful demonstration when they were attacked by the Philippine military.
The Moro National Liberation Front, which had signed a peace deal with the Philippine government in 1996, is based in the west of the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The group has about 4,000 to 7,000 supporters, including an estimated 1,000 armed followers, according to data from Pacific Strategies and Assessments, a risk mitigation firm based in Manila. A rival group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which operates primarily in central Mindanao with an estimated 11,000 to 14,000 armed followers, signed a landmark peace deal with the Philippine government last October. But the Moro National Liberation Front, with an estimated 1,000 armed followers, was left out of the negotiations for last year’s peace deal, which includes wealth-sharing and autonomy provisions.
A rival group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which operates primarily in central Mindanao with an estimated 11,000 to 14,000 armed followers, signed a landmark peace deal with the Philippine government last October. Nur Misuari, the founding leader of the Moro National Liberation Front, has called that agreement a “recipe for war” that undercuts his group’s interests. His group signed a framework peace agreement with the Philippine government in 1996, but talks to finish implementing the agreement have dragged on without final resolution.
The Moro National Liberation Front was left out of the negotiations for last year’s peace deal, which includes lucrative wealth-sharing and autonomy provisions. Nur Misuari, the founding leader of the Moro National Liberation Front, has called that agreement a “recipe for war” that undercuts his group’s interests. Zamboanga City is home to the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines, a group of about 500 United States personnel from various branches of the military who are advising the Philippine government on antiterrorism operations. The American forces were not involved in the fighting on Monday, Philippine military officials said.
Zamboanga City is home to the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines, a group of about 500 United States personnel from various branches of the military who are advising the Philippine government on antiterrorism operations. The American forces were not involved in the fighting, Philippine military officials said.
The American Embassy in Manila expressed condolences on Monday to the family members of those who died in the fighting and pledged support for the Philippine police and military.
“They are professionals dedicated to protecting their communities,” an embassy statement said. “We fully support the ongoing peace process and hope the parties can continue to avoid violence as they work toward a final resolution that will last for generations and benefit all the people of the Philippines.”